Head lamp



Dec. 31, 1929. l o. WAPPLER Y n 1,741,2621l HEAD LAMP Filed Aug. 20, 1925 Patented Dec. 3l, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OTTO WAPPLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA HEAD LAMP Application filed August 20, 1925. Serial No. A51,359.

My present invention relates to head lamps and has particular reference to a device inwhich a lamp is supported upon a head-piece adapted to be worn by a user.

An object of the invention is to provide a lamp of this character particularly suitable for use as a trouble lamp by automobilists and mechanics, which will be eilicient in operation, of a construction which is staunch and durable and inexpensive to manufacture, yet extremely light and compact and presenting a neat outward appearance.

One feature of the invention lies in connecting a lamp through a universal joint to a head-piece in such a manner that the lamp will project from a point on a line with and between the eyes of the wearer, and will be movable into any redial position of a hemisphere whose center is at the universal oint.

In lamps of this general character, utilizing electricalV sources of energy, it has heretofore been customary to provide the source of energy in the form of a battery, carried either upon the head-piece itself 0r at some distance from the device, as for example in the pocket of a user, and switch means have lbeen provided either in close association with the battery or in the electrical connecting means leading from the battery to the device. In either case, the switch manipulation is a source of great inconvenience, necessitating not only additional elements, but causing the user great discomfort by requiring him to grope for the switch with a consequent loss of time.

It is accordingly another `object of my invention to provide means foiautomatically Vestablishin g electricaljconnection to the lamp by movement of the lamp itself into operative position, and for automaticallyextinguishing the lamp when it is shiftedr or thrown into certain other positions.

Another object of. my invention is to pi'ovide ajdevice in whieh not only the remotetion, of the lamp socket and the means for ness of the switch control has been eliminated, but in which a head-piece of extremely light and comfortable construction, the stability of which is not aected by movements "of the head, has been provided.

According to my invention, the head-piece is provided in the form of an ordinary spectacle frame, which embodies all the desirable lfeatures just referred to,"and thelamp is mounted by suitable means upon a medial bridge portion thereof. A

According to another' feature of the invention, the particular movements of the lamp f which will disconnect the electrical circuit are those which will simultaneously throw z the lamp out of operative position and into a collapsed inoperative position relative to the headpiece. The lamp is preferably of elongated cylindrical shape, and the collapsed inoperative position will be one which brings the lamp into close parallelism with the specrtacle frame; this feature, together' with the inherent collapsibility of the spectacle frame, in a well-known manner, renders the entire Ydevice extremely compact, so that it may be r expeditiously inserted into a suitable con* tainer or box, or may if desired be slipped into a users pocket until such time as further use is required.. The source of energy is prefeiably a battery, and electrical connecting `means, preferably fine insulated wires, lead .the contour of one eye-rim of the spectacle `frame and thence along the adjacent earpiece, whereby it will be out of annoying proximity when the device is used, and may be coiled around the collapsed frame and lamp in a neat and compact manner when the ldevice is stored away for further use.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated one form of construction of my device in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the assembled device, in opened position as it would appear upon a wearerwhen in use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in cross-secmounting the same up'on the spectacle frame;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2, with the lam in an operative position; and

Fig. tis a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the lamp in an inoperative electrically disconnected position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have utilized an ordinary spectacle frame comprising eyerims 10, a connecting medial bridge portion 11, and ear-pieces 12 pivotally attached to opposite outside edges of the rims 10 in a well-known manner. Rotatably mounted with respect to the frame is a bearing member 13 for pivotally supporting a lamp 14 comprising a socket 15 (Fig. 2) and a preferably elongated cylindrical casing 16 for enclosing the bulb and provided at its outer end with a condenser lens 17. rIhe bearing member 13 is preferably mounted for rotation upon a pedestal 18, comprising legs or supports 19 projecting from each end of the bridge portion 11, and superposed metallic members 20 supported at opposite ends upon the supports 19.. ylllhe members 20 are insulated from each other by an intermediate insulating element 21, and studs 22 which form the cores of the legs 19 are threaded at their ends to engage threaded openings 23 in the outer member 2O but lie clear of the inner member 20 by virtue 'of the provision of openings in the latter of a slightly greater diameter than that of the studs. I also prefer to provide insulating spacing members 24 enclosing the studs 22 and interposed between the heads of the latter and the inner member 20. The reason for insulating the members 20 from each other Will be described in greater detail hereinafter together with a description of the entire electrical circuit.

Referring now to F ig. 2, the bearing member 13 comprises preferably a U-shaped element or gimbal bearing mounted for rotation upon a suitable pivot carried by the pedestal 13 in a manner to permit ofrotation of the bearing member 13 about an axis parallel to the proj ecting arms 25 of the U. The pivot referred to may comprise a sleeve 26 preferably of insulating material, disposed in an opening through the snperposed members of the pedestal and preferably midway thereof. The sleeve 26 encloses a stud having a head 2 7 of a vdiameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the sleeve 26, .and accordingly contacting with the inner metallic member 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 2; and having a threaded portion 28 projecting from the sleeve through the base of the U-shaped member 13 and provided at its end with a nut 29 which serves to hold the stud in position. Between the nut 29 and the base of the U-shaped member 13, I prefer to provide an insulating washer 30. The threaded portion 23 of the stud has a longitudinal bore into the base of which I prefer to insert a minute coil spring 3l, and on top .of the spring a metallic plunger or Contact element 32 which is constantly' urged Ont of the bore by the .spring 31. The contact element 32 is thus concentric with the gimbal bearing 13.

The lamp is mounted for rotation in theV bearing member 13 along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the member 13, that is, transversely of the arms 25. 'Ihe rotatability of the member 13 along one axis and of the lamp .along an aXis perpendicular thereto produces a resultant movability of the lamp which is universal in character.

The lamp socket 15 `carries a journal member 33, which I prefer to make integral with the socket, the journal member being provided with oppositely disposed journal portions 34 rotatably mounted in a second gimbal bearing formed by suitable aligned openings in the arms 25. rIhe ournal member 33 constitutes also a switch member, and a detailed description thereof must therefore be preceded by a description of the electrical circuit.

The fact that the members 2O are insulated from each other makes it possible to utilize them as terminals for connecting wires .35 which are led from a source of energy, indicated generally by the reference numeral 36, to the rearward end of one ear-piece 12, thence along the ear-piece to one rim l10 and around the rim to the bridge portion 11. The bearing member 13 constitutes in itself one element of the circuit, and is accordingly in constant electrical contact with the outer metallic member 20. Itis insulated from the inner metallic member 20 by means of the 'sleeve 26 and the washer 30, which for this purpose is made of a diameter slightly larger than that of the nut 29. The other side of the electrical circuit leads from the inner member 2O through the stud head 27 and the threaded portion 23 to the small plunger 32. The plunger 32 and the member 13l therefore constitute two insulated lined contacts relative to the lamp. rEhe opposite terminals of the lamp socket are electrically connected with these two xed contacts respectively when the lamp is in operative position.

lNith this object in view, the journal member 33 comprises a. preferably spherical member having a midportion .37 normally contacting with the plunger 32 and in electrical connection with .one terminal of the socket, and Outer portions or Contact members 38 constantly in contact with the bearing member 13 through the journal portions 34 and in electrical connectionV with the other terminal of the lamp socket. The mid-portion 37 and the outer portions 38 are of course insulated from each other in a manner which will be presently described.

For the purpose of controllingthe .election 33 is rotated about its axis. These insulating portions are inserted, and the midportion 37 is insulated from the outer porn tions 38, by the following method of construction of the ournal portion 33.

The portion 33 is preferably a. spherical member integral with the lamp socket, and a cylindrical bore is made therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the axis o-f the lamp and to the axis about which the journal portion 33 is to rotate. Thereupon a second hole 39 is bored in a direction along the axis of the lamp socket from the center of the base of the socket through to the first mentioned bore. A cylindrical piece of insulating material 40 is then inserted snugly into the original bore (as clearly shown in Fig. 3), and its ends are preferably rounded off to conform to the outer surface of the spherical portion 33. A third bore is then made along the axis of the socket 15, of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore 39 and extending through the insulating insert 40 and through that portion of the spherical member 33 which is eventually to constitute the mid-portion 37. That portion of the bore which passes through the midportion 37 is then internally threaded; an insulating washer 41 is then laid over the bottom of the socket 15; and a long stud 42 is inserted through the washer 41, and the bore 39, into the smaller last-constructed bore into engagement at its end with the internal threads referred to. 'The end of the stud 42 is preferably smoothed off to -conform to the outer surface of the spherical member 33. The iinal step consists in making two slots 43 in the member 33 in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the member 33 and extending from each side of the threaded end of the stud 42 inwardly to the insulating insert 40. This `process of slotting would ordinarily cause the mid-portion 37 to be cut out entirely from the member 33, but the stud 42 having been previously inserted, serves to hold and retain the mid-portion 37 in its o-riginal position.

It will be'noted that the mid-portion 37 has been insulated from the outer portions 38 by the slots 43 and by the insert 40, at the same time being in electrical connection through the stud 42 with the head of the stud which constitutes one terminal ofthe lamp socket. lt will be further noted, that the outer portions 38 now constitute Contact members in electrical connection with, and in fact integral with, the walls of the socket which constitute the other terminal of the socket, in a welleknown manner. The enlarged diameter of the bore 39, together with the washer 41, prevent short-circuiting between the outer portions 38 and the stud 42. 1t will be further seen that rotation of the lamp with respect to the bearingmember 13 Will cause the electrical circuit to make and break, depending upon whether the mid-portion 37 or the insert 40 are in contact with the plunger 32. The bore for the insert 4U is so positioned thatithe mid-portion 37 will remain in contact with the plunger 32 during movements of the lamp intoall of its possible positions except those approaching tlie plane of the spectacle frame. In other words, the lamp is movable into any radial position of a hemisphere having its center at the universal joint, and the electrical circuit will be closed in all of such radial positions except those approaching the flat surface of the hemisphere.`

Figs. 3 and 4 clearly illustrate the ranges between which the lamp may move and still be in electrical connection with the source of energy. Fig. 3 illustratively shows the lamp in an operativelposition perpendicular to the spectacle frame, and Fig. 4 shows the lamp thrown back into parallelism with the sphectacle frame, and shows how the insulating insert 40 replaces the mid-portion 37 in contact with the plunger 32 when the lamp thus thrown back into an inoperative posi-A tion.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details herein vdescribed and illustrated for the purposeV of explaining the nature of my invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and it is therefore intended that these details shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim 1. A head lamp device comprising a foldable spectacle frame, a tubular casing, a lamp socket in said casing, a journal portion axially aligned with said tubular casing and behind said socket, means for mounting' said journal universally upon the medial portion of the 2. 1n a head lamp of the characterde- Y scribed, a spectacle frame, a pedestal carried thereby and comprising mutually insulated superposed contact members, an electric lamp pivotally mounted on said pedestal through 4 a universal joint, and means for establishing electrical connection through said joint between said members and the opposite terminals of said lamp respectively, said means comprising a'journal carried by the lamp and spectacle frame so that the casing may be i having mutually insulated `conducting pori f members.

3. Ina lamp of the character described, .a bearing, a journal carried by the lamp and pivotally mounted in `said bear-ingand including pivot portions engaging said bearing, said journal comprising `mutually insulated contact portions, one of which isconstituted lby said pivot portions, `said con-tact portions being in electric/al connection with opposite terminals ofthe lamp respectively, means for establishing electrical connection through said bearing between said Contact portions anda source of energy, and vmeans for automatically disconnecting said electrical connection by movements of the j our-nal.

4. In a head lamp of the character described., in combi-nation, a spectacle trame, an electric lamp pivotally mounted thereon through a universal joint, .and means Yfor establishing electric connection through said `joint between a source of energy and said lamp, said lmeans `comprising an integral journal carried by the lamp and including conducting pivot portions in electrical commnnication, and -a second 4conducting portion carried by the journal and insulated from said pivot portions, said ournal comprising an integral member having a rec/ess, and said .second por-.tion .c omprising a member 4carried in said recess and spaced from .the walls thereof.

5. In a head lamp of the character described, in combination, a spectacle frame, an electric lamp `pivotally mounted thereon ,through a universal joint, ,and means for establishing electric connection through said joint 'between a source .of energy and said lamp, said means comprising an integral .spherical journal lcarried by the lamp and having adiametrical bore and slots extending fromsaid bore to the sur-,face .to prov-ide lconducting .pivot portions in electrical com-munication and asecond conducting portion-spaced from the pivot portions by said slots and bore, said pivot portions being in electrical connection with .one terminal ,ol the lamp, and means for simultaneously connecting said second portion physically vand electrically to the other terminal of the lamp.

6. In a head lamp of the character ,described, in combination, a spectacle frame, an electric lamp .pivotally mounted thereon through a universal joint, means for establishing .electrical connection `through said joint between a source of .energy and said lamp, said means comprising an integraljournal carried by the lamp and including conducting .pivot portions in electrical commnnica tion and a .second conducting portion insulated frorm .said ivot portions, land means for .automatically Cisconnecting said ,electrical connection by movements .of the lamp, .said last named means comprising insulating portions `carried by said second conducting portion and movable into and out of the electric circuit by movements of the journal. l

7. In a head lamp of the character described, in combination, a spectacle trame, an electric lamp pivotally mounted thereon through a universal joint, means for establishing electrical connection through said joint between a source ci energyand saidlamp, said means comprising an integral journal carried by the lamp and cut to provide conduc-ting pivot portions in electrical communication anda second nesting conducting portion spaced from the pivot portions, and means for automatically disconnecting said electrical connection by movements of the lamp, said last named means comprising an insulating insert extending through the journal between said nesting portions and having exposed surfaces movable into andout of the electric circuit by movements of the journal.

8. As an attachment lfor a spectacle frame, an electric lamp for pivotal association with said frame, said lamp comprising a pedestal comprising mutually insulated contact members, means for `attaching the pedestal to the trame, a universal joint connecting the lamp to the pedestal, and means for establishing lelectrical connection through said `joint between said members and the opposite terminals of the lamp respectively.

9. As an attachment for a supporting trame, an electric lamp for pivotal assoc1a- -tion with said frame, said lamp comprising a pedestal comprising two superposed Vmetallic members and an intermediate insulating element, means for attaching the pedestal to the frame, a universal joint connecting the lamp to the pedestal, and means for establishing electrical connection through said joint between saidA members and the opposite terminals of the lamp respectively, said universal joint comprising a bearing rotatably mounted on the pedestal and a journal carried by the lamp and rotatably mounted in said bearing.

l0. In a head lamp of the character described, in combination, a spectacle frame, a pedestal carried thereby and comprising two superposed metallic members and an intermediate insulating element, an electric lamp pivotally mounted on said pedestal through a universal joint, and means for 4establishing .electrical connection through said joint ybetween said members and the opposite terminals of said lamp respectively, said means comprising a journal member carried by the lamp and having conducting portions insulated yfrom each other and electrically connected respectively with one terminal of the lamp and one of said metallic members.

11. In a hea-d lamp of the character d'e scribed, in combination, a spectacle iframe, a rpedestal carried thereby and comprising two superposed metallic members-and an intermediate insulating element, an electric lamp pivotally mounted on said pedestal through a universal joint, and means for establishing electrical connection through said joint between said members and the opposite terminals of said lamp respectively, said means comprising a bearing member having insulated iixed contacts electrically connected with said members respectively, and a journal member carried by the lampand rotatable in said bearing member, said journal member having insulated conducting portions contacting with said contacts respectively.

12. The combination of an electric spot light mounted on gimbal bearings arranged with suiiicient friction to hold the light in different angular adjustments, an electric circuit for said light, and switching means for said circuit comprising a pair of contact members, one contact member being arranged concentric with one of said gimbal bearings and the other contact member being arranged to move about the axis of the other gimbal bearing into and out of engagement with the ,J first mentioned Contact member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

OTTO WAPPLER. 

